V8 Engine

The Eugene Von Arx Special of California. Built in 1940 by Bungholers of Hollywood member Eugene Von Arx Jr., the Eugene Von Arx Special is a rare prewar custom roadster that fused dry lakes performance with high-end coachbuilding. Designed and hand-formed by Eugene's father, an alum of the Walter M. Murphy Company and Don Lee Coachworks, the body featured Art Deco styling, 1937 Chevrolet and 1937 Oldsmobile lighting, and a split DuVall windshield. The chassis was crafted by Frank Kurtis using twin 1939 Chevrolet frames, and the car was powered by a rare Riley OHV-equipped Ford flathead V8. It recorded a 114.4 MPH run at El Mirage in May 1942. In August 2025, this early piece of California hot rod history returned to the spotlight, offered at Mecum's Monterey Auction.

The V8 engine revolutionized hot rodding and custom car culture. When Ford introduced the flathead V8 in 1932, it gave everyday drivers access to powerful performance at an affordable price. Hot rodders quickly embraced the V8, swapping it into everything from Model As to Mercurys for more speed on the street and dry lakes. Over the decades, the V8 became the go-to powerplant for both hot rods and customs, with legendary engines like the Cadillac OHV, Oldsmobile Rocket, and Chevy small-block fueling the movement. For many, nothing beats the sound and pull of a properly tuned V8.